Traveler synchronized purchase and delivery

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present invention provide devices that receive an item for purchase and an itinerary of a user that includes multiple destinations, each destination defined by a geographic identifier and a corresponding time. Embodiments identify multiple vendor purchase and delivery options for the item, each of the delivery options including at least one of the destinations, wherein the vendor purchase and delivery options have attributes that include a vendor identifier, an item price, a shipping price for the item to one of the plurality of destinations at the corresponding time, and an identifier of a destination at a corresponding time, and wherein the embodiments select one of the vendor purchase and delivery options for the item as a function of determining that the attributes of the selected one meet user preferences.

BACKGROUND

The field of e-commerce includes the application of computer technologyto the purchase and delivery of goods.

User interfaces of computing devices, such as smartphones, tablets,laptops, etc., are often used by consumers to purchase goods fordelivery to a specified location, such as a ship to address. E-commerceapplications, such as a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) application,or an “app” on a local computing device, provide the user interface ofthe application vendor offerings in an electronic marketplace. Forexample, product A is offered by vendor X with shipping option S, andproduct A is also offered by vendor Y with shipping option T in theelectronic marketplace. Shipping options, for example, include FEDEX®,UPS® Ground, etc. FEDEX is a registered trademark of Federal ExpressCorporation in the United States or in other countries. UPS is aregistered trademark of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. in theUnited States or in other countries. Delivery options include theshipping options along with timings and preferences of an actualdelivery. As part of the purchasing process, the consumer can bepresented in the user interface with different delivery options of thepurchased goods to the location, such as same day delivery, next daydelivery, 2-3 day delivery, 10 day delivery, etc., by each of thevendors. The delivery time is measured from the time of purchase. Eachvendor in the marketplace is responsible for ensuring that the productcan be shipped to the specified location from the corresponding vendorlocation.

Vendors of the consumer products can optimize shipping or delivery byselection of carriers and/or routes for delivery of the purchased goodsto the specific location. The shipping or delivery process can includechanges in the route to the specified location due to unforeseencircumstances, such as road closures, traffic congestion, etc.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented methodincludes receiving an item for purchase and an itinerary of a user,wherein the itinerary includes a plurality of destinations, and each ofthe plurality of destinations includes a geographic identifier and acorresponding time; identifying a plurality of vendor purchase anddelivery options for the item, wherein each of the delivery optionsinclude at least one of the plurality of destinations, and wherein thevendor purchase and delivery options include multiple attributesincluding a vendor identifier, an item price, a shipping price for theitem to one of the plurality of destinations at the corresponding time,and an identifier of the destination of the one of the plurality ofdestinations at the corresponding time; and selecting one of theplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options for the item as afunction of determining that the attributes of the selected one meetuser preferences.

In another aspect, a computer system has a hardware computer processor,computer readable memory in circuit communication with the computerprocessor, and a computer-readable storage medium in circuitcommunication with the computer processor and having programinstructions stored thereon. The computer processor executes the programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via thecomputer readable memory and thereby receives an item for purchase andan itinerary of a user, wherein the itinerary includes a plurality ofdestinations, and each of the plurality of destinations includes ageographic identifier and a corresponding time; identifies a pluralityof vendor purchase and delivery options for the item, wherein each ofthe delivery options include at least one of the plurality ofdestinations, and wherein the vendor purchase and delivery optionsinclude multiple attributes including a vendor identifier, an itemprice, a shipping price for the item to one of the plurality ofdestinations at the corresponding time, and an identifier of thedestination of the one of the plurality of destinations at thecorresponding time; and select one of the plurality of vendor purchaseand delivery options for the item as a function of determining that theattributes of the selected one meet user preferences.

In another aspect, a computer program product has a computer-readablestorage medium with computer readable program code embodied therewith.The computer readable program code includes instructions for executionby a computer processor that cause the computer processor to receive anitem for purchase and an itinerary of a user, wherein the itineraryincludes a plurality of destinations, and each of the plurality ofdestinations includes a geographic identifier and a corresponding time;identify a plurality of vendor purchase and delivery options for theitem, wherein each of the delivery options include at least one of theplurality of destinations, and wherein the vendor purchase and deliveryoptions include multiple attributes including a vendor identifier, anitem price, a shipping price for the item to one of the plurality ofdestinations at the corresponding time, and an identifier of thedestination of the one of the plurality of destinations at thecorresponding time; and select one of the plurality of vendor purchaseand delivery options for the item as a function of determining that theattributes of the selected one meet user preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will bemore readily understood from the following detailed description of thevarious aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a computerized aspect according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an example schematic illustration of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an example schematic illustration of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustration of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detaileddescription on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 includes one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 1 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 1) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may include applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and processing for online purchasing of anitem with delivery options 96.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an example of a programmable deviceimplementation 10 according to an aspect of the present invention, whichmay function as a cloud computing node within the cloud computingenvironment of FIG. 2. Programmable device implementation 10 is only oneexample of a suitable implementation and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of theinvention described herein. Regardless, programmable deviceimplementation 10 is capable of being implemented and/or performing anyof the functionality set forth hereinabove.

A computer system/server 12 is operational with numerous other generalpurpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with computersystem/server 12 include, but are not limited to, personal computersystems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

The computer system/server 12 is shown in the form of a general-purposecomputing device. The components of computer system/server 12 mayinclude, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processingunits 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couples various systemcomponents including system memory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example according to the presentinvention for online purchasing of an item with delivery options. Aconfigured processor, such as the processing unit 16 of the computersystem/server 12, as described in reference to FIG. 3, receives anitinerary 400 of a user. In some embodiments, the configured processorcan also include a suitably configured processor on the local computingdevice 54, such as with an application plug-in.

The itinerary 400 initially includes destinations B, C, D, and E atcorresponding times t₁, t₂, t₃, t₄, and t₅, respectively, and travelingfrom initial location A at a corresponding time t₀. The itinerary 400can be entered via the user interface of the local computing device 54or received from another application, such as a travel planningapplication. The destinations include geographic identifiers, such asphysical addresses, postal addresses, geospatial coordinates, and thelike, where the user can receive an item 402 to be purchased, such asillustrated product X. In some embodiments, the geographic identifierscan include a dropbox, locker, or other specific location at a physicaladdress or geospatial coordinate.

The destinations of the itinerary 400 can include different geopoliticallocations, such as different states, different countries, and the like.For example, the user may be on an international trip, such as Boston inthe United States, London in Great Britain, and Bangalore in India, andseeks items along the way while minimizing the size of travel luggage.In another example, the user may be traveling in a same country, such asa backpacker hiking the Appalachian Trail and seeks to resupply food andequipment at different trail head destinations along the trail.

The configured processor identifies vendor purchase and delivery optionsfor the item. Each option includes a vendor identifier, an item price, ashipping price to ship the item to one of the destinations at thecorresponding time, and a destination identifier. Different item pricingfor different destinations is contemplated, and also differentcurrencies. For example, vendors, such as vendor R and T are selectedfrom a database of vendors, which offer product X. The selection of Rand T include n-tuples, such as {X, R, $12.98, $3.99, B}, and {X, T,

7.87,

2.40, C}. In the example, location B is a U.S. destination and locationC is a European destination. In some embodiments, currency equivalentsare provided. That is, the different currencies can be shown in a samecurrency at exchange rates for comparison of prices. The vendorpurchasing and shipping options can be ranked. In some embodiments,vendor purchase and delivery options for the item are identified foreach destination in the itinerary 400.

The corresponding times include a date-time range according to theitinerary 400 of the user. For example, time t₁ in a YYYYMMDDHHMM formatinclude 201810111214:201810120844 which indicates the user can acceptproduct X at location B between 12:14 pm on Oct. 11, 2018 and 8:44 am onOct. 12, 2018. In some embodiments, the range can be narrowed to asubset of the corresponding time for the user at a specified location.For example, the above range for the item is narrowed to only beaccepted between 2-4 pm on October 11 at location B. The vendor purchaseand shipping option can be restricted to offerings according to theitinerary or the narrowed range.

The configured processor distributes the vendor purchase and deliveryoptions for the item to the local computing device 54 of the user. Forexample, the n-tuples {X, R, $12.98, $3.99, B}, and {X, T,

7.87,

2.40, C} are distributed to the local computing device. The userinterface displays the vendor purchase and delivery options for the userto select. The selection includes the purchasing of the item accordingto the pricing and shipping to the destination. For example, the userselects between the offerings for product X by vendor R at location Band for product X by vendor T at location C, each according to thecorresponding item price and shipping price. Different methods ofshipping between vendors are contemplated.

The destination 404 of destination E is shown in an exploded view, whichincludes the geographic indicators 406 described above according to theitinerary 400. In some embodiments, the destination can includealternate geographic indicators, such as within a predeterminedgeospatial radius 408 of the destination 404, within a predeterminedtime by a mode of travel 410. For example, an alternate location fordestination E can include an address within 5 miles of the address onthe itinerary, an address within a 10 minute walk from the address onthe itinerary, an address within a 10 minute ride by rail, etc. Themodes of travel can include foot, bicycle, auto, bus, rail, airplane andcombinations thereof.

The user purchases another product Y, which is selected to be shipped tolocation D at time t₃. While in route, the itinerary 400 is changed fromlocation D to location D′. The configured processor receives the changein the itinerary 400 and identifies changed purchasing and shippingoptions for product Y to location D′ at corresponding time t₃′ andsubsequent destinations, such as location E. The changed purchasing andshipping options for product Y are distributed to the user interface ofthe local computing device 54 of the user, which displays the changesfor a new purchase and shipping option for item Y to location D′ or E.

The present invention provides improvements over conventional onlineproduct purchase and shipping options with the use of the itinerary andcorresponding requirements. For example, conventional shipping onlyconsiders a specific destination, and not a plurality of destinationsaccording to an itinerary. Furthermore, conventional practice does notconsider the time requirements of a traveler, who is present at alocation only for a specified time. That is, the destination is onlyvalid for a specific duration of time, after which the user has moved toanother destination. Conventional practice does not consider anexpiration of time at a destination. In some instances, conventionalpractice does not consider the value of the user receiving the item nearor at a point of intended use without having to pay for carrying theitem.

Embodiments provide improvements over the prior art in defining shippingsystems and technology with dynamic delivery capability. Traditional,prior art methods of shipping are generally static, in that a usertypically selects a shipping option that quotes or estimates a fixeddelivery date and time (for example, over a specified period of daysfrom commencement of shipping), to a fixed, specific delivery location.Such prior art methods do not account for travel itineraries of therecipient taking delivery, and thereby execute delivery to a fixed,specific delivery location regardless of recipient location, andtherefore even if the recipient is not scheduled to be at the locationto take delivery. This exposes the recipient, and/or the shipper, torisk of loss when the delivered item is misplaced, damaged or stolenbefore the recipient physically arrives at the fixed delivery locationto accept the item.

In contrast, embodiments of the present invention dynamically accountfor (are responsive to) the travel itineraries of recipients, as well asshipping delays that impact projected delivery dates and times, in orderto automatically update or revise a specified delivery location ortime/date of delivery to a revised location or date/time that isdetermined to be within the travel itinerary of the recipient, to ensurethat the recipient is able to meet and physically receive delivery ofthe item at the revised time and location. Embodiments thus eliminate orgreatly reduce the risk of loss present in the prior art from mismatchesbetween delivery and recipient itineraries, by ensuring that therecipient is scheduled to be at the location of delivery at the time ofdelivery, in order to directly and timely receive the shipped item.

While the embodiment of FIG. 4 automatically revises shipping locationand/or time to meet recipient travel itineraries, alternativeembodiments may instead generate a notification to the user or recipientthat a package in transit will miss its estimated or specified deliverytime and destination, and determine and identify alternate locationswhere the package could be delivered at a time convenient to therecipient's schedule. Embodiments may provide this functionalityautomatically, included as part of a selected shipping option service,or it may be offered as an additional service, including as an opt-inservice offered by a service provider for a fee or other consideration.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the present inventionfor online purchasing of an item with delivery options. A first localcomputing device 54′ of the user is illustrated, which includes the userinterface for online purchasing of the item with delivery options. Theuser enters the destinations of the travel itinerary 400 and the product402 to be purchased, which is received by the configured processor 16.

An item unit 500 identifies vendor purchase and shipping options for theitem from a vendor item catalog 502 or database. The vendor item catalog502 includes vendors offering the item for sale. In some embodiments,the vendor ensures jurisdictional legal compliance with item offeringsin a delivery location and shipping method. The vendor item catalog 502includes item pricing, shipping method, and shipping pricing to thedestinations. In some embodiments, the vendor item catalog 502 includeslinks to the vendor for dynamic pricing. For example, the item unit 500obtains a link from the vendor item catalog 502, which provides forpassing of attributes of the item and the destination to a vendorprogram, which returns the item price, the shipping method, and theshipping price.

The item unit 500 can provide for a plurality of items to be receivedwith varying destinations. For example, product X can be received atlocations B or C, and product Y at locations D or E. The item unit 500can provide for various payment methods for the purchased items.

A delivery unit 504 can rank the purchase and shipping options from thevarious vendors for the item. The ranking can be according to anearliest shipping destination, a lowest total price that includes thepurchase price and shipping price, a latest shipping destination, userpreferences, a vendor, a shipping method, combinations thereof and thelike. In some embodiments, a model 506 predicts a ranking based on userinformation 508 and combinations of the destination, the item price, theshipping price, the shipping method, the vendor, the total price, andthe like. For example, scalar inputs are ingested into a multiple linearregression model to recommend a suitable destination for delivery withthe corresponding vendor. The scalar inputs, such as the item price, theshipping price, and the shipping method, are weighted according to theuser preferences determined from the user information 508. The userinformation 508 can include profile information from the local computingdevice 54′, attributes from k-means cluster analysis of like consumers,social media data, prior purchase history of the user or like users,combinations thereof, and the like.

The model 506, such as a deep learning model, supports vector machines,Bayesian networks, neural networks, linear regression models, long shortterm memory (LSTM), and the like, receives and inputs the scalar inputs,analyzes the purchase and shipping options and user information 508, andoutputs a relative rank for each of the purchase and shipping options.

In some embodiments, the model 506 learns from customer feedback andadjusts optimal delivery points and modes, given an itinerary andcertain set of conditions. Based on feedback from the user, the rulesfor ranking of the delivery locations and options (timing, cost, etc.)and the weights on the factors used to determine the ranking areadjusted over time based on clustering of profiles of users with similarprofiles, preferences and the reviews, feedback received from each usercluster. The derivation of rules can include techniques, such asBayesian Inference and Multivariate Linear Regression. Thisauto-learning and tuning of the model 506 can include vendor ratingsbased on the quality and timeliness of actual delivery.

The delivery unit 504 distributes the ranked vendor purchase andshipping options for the item to the local computing device 54′. Thedelivery unit 504 selects one of the ranked vendor purchase and shippingoptions. In some embodiments, the user can modify the selected rankedvendor purchase and shipping option. The item unit 500 completes paymentof the selected vendor purchase and shipping option.

An itinerary unit 510 tracks progress of the user with respect to theitinerary 400. The tracking can include tracking of the local computingdevice 54′, entries into the local computing device 54′, inputs fromtravel planning and status (e.g. flight, train status tracker)applications that track travel, and combinations thereof. The itineraryunit 510 notifies the delivery unit 504 of changes to the destinations.The itinerary unit 510 can provide for notification of successfuldelivery to the user, which is acknowledged through the user interfaceof the local computing device 54′.

An item tracker 512 tracks progress of the shipping of the item, andprovides for exchange of information between a user interface of a localcomputing device 54″ of a deliverer responsible for delivery of the itemto the destination. The item tracker 512 can receive inputs from thelocal computing device 54″ regarding status of the delivery includingsuccessful completion of the delivery to the user.

The delivery unit 504 can resolve conflicts between reporting of thedelivery of the item by the user delivering the item through the itemtracker 512, and the user receiving the item through the itinerarytracker 510. The delivery unit 504 can resolve changes to the itinerary400 and changes to the shipping, which include changed item purchase anddelivery options distributed and displayed for a new selection on theuser interface of the local computing device 54′, and/or alternatedelivery instructions to the deliverer responsible for the deliverythrough the user interface of the local computing device 54″.

The item unit 500, the delivery unit 504, the itinerary tracker 510, andthe item tracker 512 are suitably embodied by the configured processor16 to perform the described functions using the identified structures.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method of the present inventionfor online purchasing of an item with delivery options. At 600, theconfigured processor receives the itinerary 400 and one or more items402. The itinerary 400 and the item 402 can be received in the cloudcomputing environment 50. The itinerary 400 includes a plurality ofdestinations and each destination includes a location and acorresponding time. The location can include a physical address, apostal address, or a geospatial location, such as global positioningsystem (GPS) coordinates. The corresponding time includes a duration oftime for which the user accepts delivery of the item at the destination.The time of the destination can be narrowed within the correspondingtime from the itinerary 400. In some embodiments, one or moredestinations in the itinerary 400 can be blocked or removed from furtherconsideration by the user interface of the local computing device.

At 602, the configured processor identifies vendor purchase and shippingoptions for the item 402. Each vendor purchase and shipping optionincludes a vendor identifier, an item price, a shipping price, and adestination identifier. The destination identifier is according to oneof the destinations of the itinerary 400.

At 604, the configured processor can rank the vendor purchase andshipping options for the item 402 according to predicted ranking fromthe model 506. The model 506 can include weighting according to userinformation 508 of combinations of the vendor, shipping method, shippingprice, item price, total price, and destination.

At 606, the configured processor distributes the ranked vendor purchaseand shipping options for the item 402 to the local computing device 54.The configured processor selects the highest ranked vendor purchase andshipping option for the item 402. The user interface of the localcomputing device 54 displays the ranked vendor purchase and shippingoptions of a display device of the local computing device 54.

At 608, the configured processor can receive an override of the selectedvendor purchase and shipping option. The modified selection of thevendor purchase and shipping option is entered or selected through theuser interface of the local computing device 54. The configuredprocessor can process the selected purchase and shipping option, whichincludes completing the purchase transaction with the vendor for theitem including scheduling the shipping of the item to the destination.In some embodiments, completing the purchase transaction includespayment processing. In some embodiments, payment processing is completeddirectly between the user of the local computing device and the selectedvendor.

At 610, the configured processor can receive a change to the itinerary400. The configured processor receives the change through tracking ofthe itinerary 400.

At 612, the configured processor, in response to the change in theitinerary 400, identifies vendor purchase and shipping options for thechanged itinerary. The identified vendor purchase and shipping optionsinclude options for a new destination added to the itinerary 400, anexisting destination in the itinerary or combinations thereof.

At 614, the configured processor ranks the vendor purchase and shippingoptions for the changed itinerary. The rankings can include a predictedranking for each option according to user information, total price, itemprice, shipping price, destination, vendor, shipping method, totalprice, and combinations thereof.

At 616, the configured processor distributes the ranked vendor purchaseand shipping options to the local computing device 54 of the user. Theconfigured processor selected the highest ranked vendor purchase andshipping option. The user interface of the local computing device 54formats and displays the ranked vendor purchase and shipping options.For example, the highest ranked or most likely are sorted first in thedisplay.

At 618, the configured processor can receive a modification to theselected vendor purchase and shipping option for the changed itinerary.The selection can be received via the user interface of the localcomputing device 54. The configured processor completes the purchase ofthe item with the selected vendor purchase and shipping option. In someembodiments, the configured processor notifies the shipper through theitem tracker 512 of the change or cancellation of the prior transaction.

At 620, the configured processor can confirm receipt of the item at thedestination through the user interface of the local computing device ofthe user receiving the item. The confirmation can include delivererconfirmation of delivery of the item to the user, and combinations ofuser confirming receipt and the deliverer confirming delivery. In someembodiments, data from selected original and/or changed vendor purchaseand delivery options is added to the user information 508.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular aspects onlyand is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “include” and “including” when usedin this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Certainexamples and elements described in the present specification, includingin the claims, and as illustrated in the figures, may be distinguished,or otherwise identified from others by unique adjectives (e.g. a “first”element distinguished from another “second” or “third” of a plurality ofelements, a “primary” distinguished from a “secondary” one or “another”item, etc.) Such identifying adjectives are generally used to reduceconfusion or uncertainty, and are not to be construed to limit theclaims to any specific illustrated element or embodiment, or to implyany precedence, ordering or ranking of any claim elements, limitations,or process steps.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving an item for purchase and an itinerary of a user, wherein theitinerary comprises a plurality of destinations, and wherein each of theplurality of destinations comprise a geographic identifier and acorresponding time; identifying a plurality of vendor purchase anddelivery options for the item, wherein each of the delivery optionscomprise at least one of the plurality of destinations, wherein thevendor purchase and delivery options comprise a plurality of attributesincluding a vendor identifier, an item price, a shipping price for theitem to one of the plurality of destinations at the corresponding time,and an identifier of the destination of the one of the plurality ofdestinations at the corresponding time; and selecting one of theplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options for the item as afunction of determining that the attributes of the selected one meetuser preferences.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying theplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options includes identifyingoptions for purchase and delivery of the item to each of the pluralityof destinations of the itinerary.
 3. The method of claim 1, furtherincluding: computing a rank for each vendor purchase and delivery optionaccording to the preferences that are selected from a group consistingof the user preferences and preferences of similar users; ordering theplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options for the item accordingto the computed rank; and selecting a highest ranked of the orderedplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, receiving a change in the itinerary for the user that removes adestination of a selected vendor purchase and delivery option for theitem; identifying vendor purchasing and delivery options for the changeditinerary; and selecting one of the vendor purchase and delivery optionsfor the change itinerary.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vendorpurchase and delivery options include locations that are defined by apostal address, a physical address, or a geospatial location.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the locations include nearby locationsselected from a group consisting of: a postal address that is locatedwithin a predetermined geospatial radius; a postal address that islocated within a predetermined time determined by a mode of travel; aphysical address that is located within a predetermined geospatialradius; a physical address that is located within a predetermined timedetermined by a mode of travel; a geospatial location that is locatedwithin a predetermined geospatial radius; and a geospatial location thatis located within a predetermined time determined by a mode of travel.7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: integratingcomputer-readable program code into a computer system comprising aprocessor, a computer readable memory in circuit communication with theprocessor, and a computer readable storage medium in circuitcommunication with the processor; and wherein the processor executesprogram code instructions stored on the computer readable storage mediumvia the computer readable memory and thereby receives the item and theitinerary of the user, identifies the plurality of vendor purchase anddelivery options for the item, selects one of the plurality of vendorpurchase and delivery options and distributes the plurality of vendorpurchase and delivery options for the item to the local computingdevice.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computer-readable programcode is provided as a service in a cloud environment.
 9. A computersystem, comprising: a computer processor; a computer readable memory incircuit communication with the computer processor; and a computerreadable storage medium in circuit communication with the computerprocessor; wherein the computer processor executes program instructionsstored on the computer readable storage medium via the computer readablememory and thereby: receives an item for purchase and an itinerary of auser, wherein the itinerary comprises a plurality of destinations, andwherein each of the plurality of destinations comprise a geographicidentifier and a corresponding time; identifies a plurality of vendorpurchase and delivery options for the item, wherein each of the deliveryoptions comprise at least one of the plurality of destinations, whereinthe vendor purchase and delivery options comprise a plurality ofattributes including a vendor identifier, an item price, a shippingprice for the item to one of the plurality of destinations at thecorresponding time, and an identifier of the destination of the one ofthe plurality of destinations at the corresponding time; and selects oneof the plurality of vendor purchase and delivery options for the item asa function of determining that the attributes of the selected one meetuser preferences.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processorexecutes program instructions stored on the computer readable storagemedium via the computer readable memory and thereby identify theplurality of vendor purchase and delivery options by identifying optionsfor purchase and delivery of the item to each of the plurality ofdestinations of the itinerary.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein theprocessor executes program instructions stored on the computer readablestorage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby: computes arank for each vendor purchase and delivery option according to thepreferences that are selected from a group consisting of the userpreferences and preferences of similar users; orders the plurality ofvendor purchase and delivery options for the item according to thecomputed rank; and selects a highest ranked of the ordered plurality ofvendor purchase and delivery options.
 12. The system of claim 9, whereinthe processor executes program instructions stored on the computerreadable storage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby:receives a change in the itinerary for the user that removes adestination of a selected vendor purchase and delivery option for theitem; identifies vendor purchasing and delivery options for the changeditinerary; and selects one of the vendor purchasing and delivery optionsfor the changed itinerary.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the vendorpurchase and delivery options include locations that are defined by apostal address, a physical address, or a geospatial location.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the locations include nearby locationsselected from a group consisting of: a postal address that is locatedwithin a predetermined geospatial radius; a postal address that islocated within a predetermined time determined by a mode of travel; aphysical address that is located within a predetermined geospatialradius; a physical address that is located within a predetermined timedetermined by a mode of travel; a geospatial location that is locatedwithin a predetermined geospatial radius; and a geospatial location thatis located within a predetermined time determined by a mode of travel.15. A computer program product, comprising: a computer readable storagemedium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, thecomputer readable program code comprising instructions for execution bya computer processor that causes the computer processor to: receive anitem for purchase and an itinerary of a user, wherein the itinerarycomprises a plurality of destinations, and wherein each of the pluralityof destinations comprise a geographic identifier and a correspondingtime; identify a plurality of vendor purchase and delivery options forthe item, wherein each of the delivery options comprise at least one ofthe plurality of destinations, wherein the vendor purchase and deliveryoptions comprise a plurality of attributes including a vendoridentifier, an item price, a shipping price for the item to one of theplurality of destinations at the corresponding time, and an identifierof the destination of the one of the plurality of destinations at thecorresponding time; and select one of the plurality of vendor purchaseand delivery options for the item as a function of determining that theattributes of the selected one meet user preferences.
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 15, wherein the instructions for executioncause the computer processor to identify the plurality of vendorpurchase and delivery options by identifying options for purchase anddelivery of the item to each of the plurality of destinations of theitinerary.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein theinstructions for execution cause the computer processor to: compute arank for each vendor purchase and delivery option according to thepreferences that are selected from a group consisting of the userpreferences and preferences of similar users; order the plurality ofvendor purchase and delivery options for the item according to thecomputed rank; and select a highest ranked of the ordered plurality ofvendor purchase and delivery options.
 18. The computer program productof claim 15, wherein the instructions for execution cause the computerprocessor to: receive a change in the itinerary for the user thatremoves a destination of a selected vendor purchase and delivery optionfor the item; identify vendor purchasing and delivery options for thechanged itinerary; and select one of the plurality of vendor purchaseand delivery options for the changed itinerary.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein the vendor purchase and delivery optionsinclude locations that are defined by a postal address, a physicaladdress, or a geospatial location.
 20. The computer program product ofclaim 19, wherein the vendor purchase and delivery options includelocations include a nearby location that is selected from the groupconsisting of: a postal address that is located within a predeterminedgeospatial radius; a postal address that is located within apredetermined time determined by a mode of travel; a physical addressthat is located within a predetermined geospatial radius; a physicaladdress that is located within a predetermined time determined by a modeof travel; a geospatial location that is located within a predeterminedgeospatial radius; and a geospatial location that is located within apredetermined time determined by a mode of travel.